Study Guide
Make sure to make the most out of university, you paid a lot of money for it, and it will
literally decide your future. Don’t learn for the sake of completing the test, but for acquiring
valuable skills for your career. Take responsibility, make the most out of it, and develop your
competence.
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The pomodoro method
Set a timer for 25 minutes, during this period you remove all distractions and give it
your full focus. After the 25 minutes, reward yourself, with a small break or maybe a
coffee, move around a bit and relax, and then dive into another 25 minute study
period.
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Repetition is key, spaced repetition
Take responsibility and start studying well in advance, it’s way more beneficial to
study and repeat something multiple times over a long period, study a subject every
other day and it will stick. Don’t try to cramp everything into one session, once you
have understood something, go on to the next thing and revisit it in a couple of days.
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Recall / mini tests
It’s super beneficial to test yourself after reading a text. Right after completing a
paragraph, put down the book and try to recall the key ideas of what you just read.
You’ll learn more in one hour of testing rather than one hour of studying.
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Big picture
Try to grasp the big picture before diving into a complex subject, read the headlines
and look at the pictures, then go into detail.
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Study in different environments
This can promote learning, whilst out on a walk, see if you can recall something you
want to learn.
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Explain it to a five year old
To really know a subject, you should be able to explain it to a five year old, simplified,
without any notes, try to use analogies and metaphors.
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Beware of illusion of competence
It's easy to hear/read a conclusion and understand why they came to that conclusion,
but it's very different to be able to come to that conclusion by yourself.
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Read through your work
Always revisit what you have done, even if you are completely confident, as the brain
might fool itself.
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Don’t get overwhelmed
Don’t just practice what you find easy, start with one thing and progress onto the
other, eventually everything will tie up.
To Do Lists
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Write a weekly to do lists with key tasks
Preferably by hand in a journal
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Do a daily to do list the night before
This will help you grapple with the problems during sleep, allowing the diffuse mode
to process them. The working memory only has 4 slots, so freeing them up by writing
things down allows you to focus on other things.
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Mix tasks
It can be a good idea to mix different tasks, for example during the break of a
pomodoro cycle maybe to some of the cleaning you have to get done. Allows you to
switch focus, move around (diffuse, creative mode) and be very productive.
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Star with the hardest thing on the to do list
Atleast with 1 pomodoro cycle. This will give a sense of achievement and otherwise
you will dread this all day, taking up some of your brainpower.
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Set a mini deadline/goal finish time
Studies show that people who allow leisure time perform better, and it urges you to
be productive.
Procrastination
Procrastination is looking for the easy way out, this will carry over into other areas of life, the
same idea as when you start training you also start to eat more healthy, a bit like
compounding interest.
It’s normal to feel dread before starting a study session. Focus on starting the process, the
first pomodoro cycle, instead of the product, the big essay you have to write.
Habits consists of 3 key steps, in the case of procrastination they are
1. The que, what triggers the habit, usually a distraction or a feeling.
2. The routine, procrastination.
3. The reward, avoidance of the pain from doing the task at hand.
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Notice the queues, when you do notice a queue use your willpower to overcome this
and start a pomodoro cycle.
Adjust your environment so that you avoid those triggers.
Substitute the reward with something else, a cup of coffee, a youtube video, the
satisfaction of being productive, relax without guilt.
Change your belief. “I am a person who does to procrastinate, I do things when they
need to get done”
Memorization
Repetition is key for long term memorization, therefore take responsibility, start early and
utilize spaced repetition.
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Flash cards
On one side, write what it’s called, on the other side, write the explanation. Test
yourself, spaced repetition.
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Association
If i want to remember a number, say 49, it can be easier to think of my 10k pr,
something that is familiar to me.
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Memory palace
Invision a place you are familiar with, ie your room, and then, if you want to
remember the grocery list, imagine a huge loaf of bread chilling on the couch, peanut
butter spreaded all over the flood and jelly dripping from the ceiling.
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Another Visualization
If i want to remember say head, shoulder, knees, HSK, i should visualize Happy
Space Knight. (A happy knight in outer space)
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Metaphor / analogy
The livelier the better, it helps you imagine the concept.
Even though these techniques seem weird they help you internalize and process the
information.
Tests
Preparation
● You should be able to answer yes to the following questions:
- Did you make a serious attempt to understand the subject?
- Did you work with classmates on homework problems, or check your solutions with
others?
- Did you attempt to outline every homework problem solution?
- Did you actively participate in group discussions?
- Did you consult with your instructor when struggling?
- Did you understand ALL homework problems solutions?
- Did you ask in class for explanations of homework problems solutions that weren't
clear to you?
- Did you get a reasonable night's sleep before the test?
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Don’t study too much the day before the test
Get a brief overview over the subjects. But don’t runt a hard run the day before race
day.
Taking the test
- Turn nervousness into excitement to nail the test, deep belly breaths.
- Read through the test to grasp the big picture.
- Find the toughest questions and start there, if you get stuck within the first couple of
minutes, switch to an easier one. This allows your brain to switch mode and you
make progress in the test.
- Repeat, try a harder question, and if you get stuck again or sway in the wrong
direction go to an easier one. “When waiting for the burger to grill you can start
making the salad sauces” (Try this one homework first so that you are used to it)
- If there are multiple choice questions, cover up the options and try to answer by
yourself first, then look at the options.
- After answering a question, look away for a second, take a breath and switch focus,
and then ask yourself if your answer really makes sense.
- Review the test from back to front.
Beware of imposter syndrome, the feeling that you are a fluke, a fake, and soon everyone
will figure that out, that on the next test you will fail and everyone will know. Frequent
feelings of inadequacy. Keep your chin up